| Summary: | The dodders (<i>Cuscuta</i> spp.) are parasitic plants that feed on the stems of their host plants. <i>Cuscuta campestris</i> is one of the most damaging parasitic plants for the worldwide agricultural production of broad-leaved crops. Its control is limited or non-existent, therefore resistance breeding is the best alternative both economically and environmentally. Common vetch (<i>Vicia sativa)</i> and bitter vetch (<i>Vicia ervilia)</i> are highly susceptible to <i>C. campestris</i>, but no resistant genotypes have been identified. Thus, the aim of this study was to identify in <i>V. sativa</i> and <i>V.</i><i>ervilia</i> germplasm collections genotypes resistant to <i>C. campestris</i> infection for use in combating this parasitic plant. Three greenhouse screening were conducted to: (1) identify resistant responses in a collection of 154 accessions of bitter vetch and a collection of 135 accessions of common vetch genotypes against infection of <i>C. campestris</i>; (2) confirm the resistant response identified in common vetch accessions; and (3) characterize the effect of <i>C. campestris</i> infection on biomass of <i>V. sativa</i> resistant and susceptible accessions. Most common vetch and bitter vetch genotypes tested were susceptible to <i>C. campestris.</i> However, the <i>V. sativa</i> genotype Vs.1 exhibited high resistance. The resistant phenotype was characterized by a delay in the development of <i>C. campestris</i> posthaustorial growth and a darkening resembling a hypersensitive-like response at the penetration site. The resistant mechanism was effective in limiting the growth of <i>C. campestris</i> as the ratio of parasite/host shoot dry biomass was more significantly reduced than the rest of the accessions. To the best or our knowledge, this is the first identification of <i>Cuscuta</i> resistance in <i>V. sativa</i> genotypes.
|
|---|